Patents by Inventor Lixiang Wei

Lixiang Wei has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240109448
    Abstract: Monitoring isolation resistance to validate vehicle charger functionality is provided. A system can include a first one or more resistors connected to a first terminal of a first direct current bus of a charger. The charger can be configured to deliver power to a first electric vehicle. The system can include a controller comprising circuitry. The controller can be configured to determine a resistance at the first one or more resistors. The controller can control delivery of power to the first electric vehicle responsive to a comparison of the resistance at the first one or more resistors with a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Aashiv Vij, Steven Schulz, Ming Li, Lixiang Wei
  • Publication number: 20230396157
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating EMI for electric vehicle chargers are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system comprises a power cabinet comprising a first PEM for charging a first electric vehicle and a second PEM for charging the first vehicle or a second electric vehicle. The first PEM and second PEM may be switched at different frequencies. In some embodiments, a difference between a first frequency of the first PEM and a second frequency of the second PEM is greater than a noise sampling frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Ming LI, Lixiang WEI, Steven SCHULZ
  • Publication number: 20230318467
    Abstract: A voltage output circuit and methods for operating voltage output circuits are disclosed. In some embodiments, a voltage output circuit comprises a power converter and a power converter controller, and is configured to provide a desired output voltage for charging an output. In some embodiments, the power converter comprises a first transistor and a second transistor. By using the power converter controller to control the power converter, a current through the first transistor may be increased until it reaches a value corresponding to the desired output voltage. When the value is reached, the first transistor may be turned off to cause a drain-to-source voltage of the second transistor to become zero. When the drain-to-source voltage of the second transistor becomes zero, the second transistor turns on, and an output of the power converter is charged to the desired output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Maziar MOBARREZ, Shenli ZOU, Lixiang WEI, Chanaka Manoj SINGHABAHU
  • Publication number: 20230198393
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for controlling a dual active bridge converter to distribute switching losses are disclosed herein. A plurality of switch control signals are provided to a plurality of switches, respectively, of at least one bridge of a dual active bridge converter. The plurality of switches comprises top switches and bottom switches. Control circuitry causes the plurality of switch control signals to switch according to a switching sequence comprising a plurality of stages. During at least one of the plurality of stages, the top switches are enabled concurrently with one another or the bottom switches are enabled concurrently with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Zahra Mohajerani, Lixiang Wei, Shenli Zou
  • Publication number: 20230182586
    Abstract: A direct current fast charge (DCFC) system and associated method that lower standby power dramatically when the DCFC system is not in operation, and that provide a reset capability for communication needs. The DCFC system utilizes an appropriate load disconnection switch and an associated control and communication circuit, timer circuit, and automatic turn on system. This improves the reliability of the electronics by removing voltage stress during the standby mode. The DCFC system prevents energy waste, and therefore provides a “green” alternative to conventional DCFC systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Ming Li, Yang Liu, Tyler Erikson, Lixiang Wei, Steven E. Schulz
  • Patent number: 11641167
    Abstract: A transformerless parallel active rectifier system includes N multiphase common mode inductors directly connected to a shared multiphase AC input with no intervening transformer, and N active rectifiers coupled to respective ones of the N multiphase common mode inductors and having respective DC outputs coupled to a shared DC bus, where N is an integer greater than 1. The N active rectifiers have ground current regulators and are synchronized to provide DPWM switching control signals synchronized to one another to regulate their respective ground currents and concurrently regulate the shared DC bus voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Ulrich, Lixiang Wei, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Nickolay N. Guskov
  • Publication number: 20230064783
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a dual active bridge converter are disclosed herein. Switch control signals are provided to respective switches of at least one bridge of a dual active bridge converter. Control circuitry causes the switch control signals to switch according to a first switching sequence. After causing the switch control signals to switch according to the first switching sequence, the control circuitry causes the switch control signals to switch according to a second switching sequence, distinct from the first switching sequence, to distribute switching losses among the switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Shenli Zou, Zahra Mohajerani, Maziar Mobarrez, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 11402436
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a sensing circuit to sense a system voltage of a DC bus circuit with a first DC bus terminal with a first voltage positive relative to a second voltage of a second DC bus terminal. The sensing circuit includes a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the second DC bus terminal, and a second terminal; a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, and a second terminal coupled to a reference node; and a resistive divider circuit coupled across the first capacitor and having an output terminal that delivers a voltage signal corresponding to a voltage across the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiangang Hu, Brian P. Brown, Lixiang Wei, Andrew J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11366147
    Abstract: For motor stator resistance calculation, a method estimates an output voltage using a Direct Current (DC) bus voltage and a duty ratio for a motor drive at a first switching frequency and at least one second switching frequency. The method measures an output current at the first switching frequency and the at least one second switching frequency. The method calculates a first stator resistance for the first switching frequency and at least one second stator resistance for the at least one second switching frequency. The method estimates a stator resistance at a DC condition based on the first stator resistance and the at least one second stator resistance. The method sets a dynamic compensation based on a stator resistance error between the first switching frequency and the at least one second switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Bing Li, Jacob Lamb
  • Patent number: 11336206
    Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable mediums, and power conversion systems with a controller configured to provide modulated inverter switching control signals at a first switching frequency in response to an inverter current being greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold. The controller is further configured to provide the inverter switching control signals at a second switching frequency in response to the inverter current being greater than the second threshold, and to provide the inverter switching control signals at a third switching frequency in response to the inverter current being less than the first threshold, where the second switching frequency is less than the first switching frequency and the third switching frequency is greater than the first switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technoligies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yujia Cui, Garron K. Morris, Lixiang Wei
  • Publication number: 20220103090
    Abstract: For open loop phase pre-charge, an apparatus includes a Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS) charging diode and a charge generator. The SMPS charging diode pre-charges an SMPS to a regulation set point from at least one phase of an Alternating Current (AC) voltage. The charge generator is powered by the pre-charged SMPS. In response to detecting the regulation set point iteratively, the charge generator detects a specified phase angle of the AC voltage. In response to the specified phase angle, the charge generator iteratively generates a charging voltage during positive voltage interval that charges a Direct Current (DC) bus capacitor to a target DC bus voltage within a charging time interval. At least a portion of the charge generator comprises one or more of hardware and executable code, the executable code stored on one or more computer readable storage media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Peizhong Yi, Robert W. Reese, Brian P. Brown, Jatinkumar Patel
  • Publication number: 20220094259
    Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable mediums, and power conversion systems with a controller configured to provide modulated inverter switching control signals at a first switching frequency in response to an inverter current being greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold. The controller is further configured to provide the inverter switching control signals at a second switching frequency in response to the inverter current being greater than the second threshold, and to provide the inverter switching control signals at a third switching frequency in response to the inverter current being less than the first threshold, where the second switching frequency is less than the first switching frequency and the third switching frequency is greater than the first switching frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yujia Cui, Garron K. Morris, Lixiang Wei
  • Publication number: 20220065909
    Abstract: For motor stator resistance calculation, a method estimates an output voltage using a Direct Current (DC) bus voltage and a duty ratio for a motor drive at a first switching frequency and at least one second switching frequency. The method measures an output current at the first switching frequency and the at least one second switching frequency. The method calculates a first stator resistance for the first switching frequency and at least one second stator resistance for the at least one second switching frequency. The method estimates a stator resistance at a DC condition based on the first stator resistance and the at least one second stator resistance. The method sets a dynamic compensation based on a stator resistance error between the first switching frequency and the at least one second switching frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Bing Li, Jacob Lamb
  • Publication number: 20210325478
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a sensing circuit to sense a system voltage of a DC bus circuit with a first DC bus terminal with a first voltage positive relative to a second voltage of a second DC bus terminal. The sensing circuit includes a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the second DC bus terminal, and a second terminal; a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, and a second terminal coupled to a reference node; and a resistive divider circuit coupled across the first capacitor and having an output terminal that delivers a voltage signal corresponding to a voltage across the first capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiangang Hu, Brian P. Brown, Lixiang Wei, Andrew J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11025052
    Abstract: Power converters, protection systems and methods to protect a precharge circuit in which a precharge resistor voltage is indirectly monitored during a normal operating mode, and a rectifier and an inverter are selectively disabled in response to the indirectly measured precharge resistor voltage indicating a fault in a precharge circuit SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Roberts, Yogesh P. Patel, Jiangang Hu, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 10811990
    Abstract: An active rectifier includes first and second DC nodes, a switching circuit, and a controller configured to compute a voltage reference according to a load signal of the DC output, and a non-linear relationship between a load condition of the DC output and a DC bus voltage at the DC output, and to generate rectifier switching control signals according to the voltage reference to cause the switching circuit to convert AC input power from the AC input to control the DC bus voltage at the DC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed S. Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Lixiang Wei, Ehsan Al-Nabi, Nirav Patel, Sang Woo Nam
  • Publication number: 20200313565
    Abstract: An active rectifier includes first and second DC nodes, a switching circuit, and a controller configured to compute a voltage reference according to a load signal of the DC output, and a non-linear relationship between a load condition of the DC output and a DC bus voltage at the DC output, and to generate rectifier switching control signals according to the voltage reference to cause the switching circuit to convert AC input power from the AC input to control the DC bus voltage at the DC output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed S. Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Lixiang Wei, Ehsan Al-Nabi, Nirav Patel, Sang Woo Nam
  • Patent number: 10784797
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a controller that generates switching control signals according to duty cycles for a current switching control cycle, and adjusts the duty cycles by a non-zero offset value according to a modulation index in response to the modulation index exceeding a non-zero threshold. A method includes computing first duty cycles according to a modulation index, generating a plurality of switching control signals according to the first duty cycles in response to the modulation index being less than or equal to a non-zero threshold, computing second duty cycles offset from the first duty cycles and generating the plurality of switching control signals according to the second duty cycles in response to the modulation index exceeding the non-zero threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Willy E. Sedano, Peizhong Yi, Brian P. Brown, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 10725116
    Abstract: A method and controller to automatically determine a grounding condition of a motor drive, in which an inverter is operated at a predetermined frequency while a load resistor is connected between a single phase of a motor drive inverter output and a reference node, a leakage flux linkage value is computed according to a neutral-ground voltage of the motor drive, and a processor determines whether the motor drive is solid grounded, high-resistance grounded, or floating according to the leakage flux linkage value. In certain examples, the processor automatically turns the inverter off while the load resistor is connected between the single phase of the inverter output and the reference node, and automatically determines whether the motor drive is delta corner grounded according to the neutral-ground voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Jiangang Hu, Jeffrey D. McGuire
  • Patent number: 10541626
    Abstract: Power conversion systems and a controller thereof includes a first processing system that computes phase references for respective phase lines of an inverter according to a feedback value, a setpoint value, and a scaling factor to emulate a scaled frequency that is less than a switching frequency, and a second processing system that generates a carrier waveform having the switching frequency, receives the phase reference from the first processing system for each inverter phase line, and compares each phase reference with the carrier waveform to generate pulse width modulated switching control signals for switching devices of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob M. Lamb, Brian J. Seibel, Timothy M. Rowan, Lixiang Wei